Trivia

Much of his hair fell out due to losing weight in an unhealthy manner. He then had to have hair transplants, moving some of his own hair from the back of his head to the front. He urges others to lose weight in a healthy manner so they won't have the same problems he did.

The episode of the popular improv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" in which Simmons guest starred, is widely considered one of the most hilarious episodes of the entire series. The series regulars (Greg Proops, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie) found it nearly impossible to maintain their composure during the improv games in which Simmons participated.

He ran his own workout studio called Slimmons. He opened it in 1974 in Beverly Hills, California, after finding that established gyms and exercise studios tended to favor already-fit people while discouraging beginners and the overweight. He endeavored to create an encouraging environment for that previously neglected clientele. He closed Slimmons in October 2016..

His top weight was 268 pounds before he learned to control it.

During his four-year stint on General Hospital (1963), Simmons began personally answering fan mail. To this day, he still personally answers emails and letters, and makes hundreds of phone calls a week to people who are seeking his help, or who simply need to a motivational phone call.

Famous for always appearing in public in candy-striped Dolfin shorts, and tank tops that have been hand decorated with Swarovski crystals.

He was initially motivated to lose weight when he received an anonymous note, left on his car, reading, "Fat people die young. Please don't die."

Honored for his dedication to the cause of health and fitness with his induction to the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2006.

Briefly studied for the priesthood.

Sells his own line of dolls on the Home Shopping Network. (noviembre de 2003)

He retired in 2014 and closed his fitness studio in 2016. He has also not made any public appearances since 2014.

When Simmons was appearing with two of his weight-loss clients on the The Howard Stern Show (1990) in 1990, Stern taunted his clients by waving food in front of their faces using a fishing pole. A large roasted chicken was lowered from the ceiling as well, to the shock and dismay of Simmons's clients. One of those clients, Michael Hebranko, later ballooned to more than 1,000 pounds and had to be rescued from his New York brownstone by 20 paramedics, policemen, and firemen. Though he quickly dropped much of the weight he had regained, three years later Hebranko again had to rescued from his apartment after gaining the weight back.

Loves Barbra Streisand, Broadway musicals, one-of-a-kind art dolls, and art glass, having been an art major in college. He owns a vast collection of art dolls. Much of his art glass collection was destroyed by the Northridge earthquake.

His mother, Shirley (nee Satin) Simmons, passed away on February 28, 1999. She lived to be 87.

Steadfastly declines to publicly speak about his sexual orientation. One of the very few times he at least acknowledged the speculation as to his sexual orientation was when he was a guest performer on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" in 2003.

He just launched a brand-new website. He is filming four new videos that will be available by the end of the year. He also is working with Sirius radio on a weekly radio show that will begin in October 2005. He still teaches aerobics all over the country, and at his own studio, Slimmons. (septiembre de 2005)

He was a spokesperson for Vitamix in the 1980s.

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Simmons explained he adopted the name Richard after an uncle who paid for his college tuition.

Was never married and did not have any children.

Enjoyed a decades long friendship with both Howard Stern and David Letterman, appearing several times on The Howard Stern Show and Late Night With David Letterman.

He was buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.

Filmed a unnamed project in March of 2001 in studio 46 at CBS Television City in Hollywood.